Beat Obesity With Mediterranean Diet, Study Suggests

If you’re worried about your weight and aren’t sure what diet is best to follow, what about eating more Mediterranean food in a bid to slim down?

New research from the University of Navarra and Carlos III Institute of Health in Spain has just revealed that by eating lots of fruit, wholegrains, vegetables and olive oil you could actually cut your chances of becoming dangerously overweight by an impressive 43 per cent, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Study participants who ate more vegetables, fruits and legumes had a reduced risk of obesity compared to people who ate more meat and animal fat. Those with the lowest obesity risk didn’t cut meat out of their diet altogether but ate far less of it than those following a more traditional British diet – and they also ate a lot of fish.

“Our study suggests that plant-based diets are associated with substantially lower risk of developing obesity. This supports current recommendations to shift to diets rich in plant foods, with lower intake of animal foods,” lead author of the study Julen Sanz was quoted by the news source as saying.

It’s not hard to make your diet more Mediterranean, you’ll be pleased to hear. Start off by introducing fish to your weekly meals (a portion of salmon and a portion of tuna would be a good beginning). You also need to ensure you’re getting enough protein, so choose lean sources like eggs, pulses, beans and non-dairy produce. Try to eat foods that are high in fat or sugar less often.